In addition, a number of non-profit organizations, such as One World Now, offer other languages after school, including Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, and Korean.

Elementary Schools

Elementary schools that offer state-funded full-day Kindergarten are required to provide experiences in a world language other than English. The goal of the experiences is to develop an interest and desire to continue learning languages later in their schooling. The goal is not to master a language. For resources on providing world language experiences, visit http://www.k12.wa.us/WorldLanguages/WorldLanguageExperiences.aspx.

Some elementary schools are also able to offer before or after-school enrichment classes in a variety of world languages. Contact us if you would like to connect with organizations that are currently offering these types of programs.

Middle Schools

All middle schools and K-8 schools offer some type of World Language program. Some schools offer a 6th grade exploratory class where students have an opportunity to spend some weeks learning about different languages. Most schools offer two years of middle school level language (the equivalent of one year of high school). Some schools offer language all three years (6th, 7th, and 8th grade). Denny, Hamilton, and Mercer International Middle Schools also offer Dual Language Immersion Continuation programs for students who participated in elementary Dual Language Immersion or are heritage language learners.

We are currently in the process of evaluating how to strengthen the pathway from middle to high school world language programs so that students can begin a language in middle school and continue it in high school at an appropriate, challenging level.

In 8th grade, any student may be tested for proficiency in a language and earn high school Competency-Based Credits in a world language based on the results. The student may also be considered for placement in a higher-level class at high school based on the assessment results and middle school teacher recommendations (if space is available in the appropriate level in high school). Individual high schools may have their own placement process. Check with the school counselors or World Language Department Head.

High Schools

Starting in 2021 in Seattle (2019 in other districts in the state), there will be a high school graduation requirement of 2 credits of world language for most students. We are working with the "Revisioning High School" team of principals to prepare for expanding offerings of world languages to more students in more schools.

The Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) recently received clarification from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Board of Education about several aspects of the new 2-credit requirement. WAFLT has issued a letter to districts outlining useful information for families and students.

World Language Course Outcomes by
level were developed by a team of World Language teachers in
Seattle working with a national consultant, Donna Clementi, in 2010.
They were updated in August 2015 to match the revised World-Readiness
Standards for Learning Languages and Washington's revised World Language Learning Standards.

The targets for high school world language seat-time courses were set by the World Language teachers in 2010 based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines:
Level 1 World Language Course - Novice Low to Novice Mid
Level 2 World Language Course - Novice Mid to Novice High
Level 3 World Language Course - Novice High to Intermediate Low
Level 4 World Language Course - Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid
Level 5 World Language Course - Intermediate Mid to Pre-Advanced

These proficiency targets may be used as a guide to assist schools in proper placement of students coming from middle school to high school after some years of language study K-8. For example, a student demonstrating overall Novice High proficiency in Spanish (the target for a Level 2 World Language Course) could probably do well in a Level 3 course in high school.

The teachers also developed Example Units aligned to these levels in ASL, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish.

World Language Credit Testing

In spring 2011, Seattle Public Schools adopted the state's model policy and procedure
for assessing language proficiency and granting competency-based credits for World Languages. Students who can speak, read, and write a
language other than English may be able to earn from 1-4
high school world language credits by completing state-approved language proficiency assessments. These credits can help them meet high
school graduation requirements and 4-year college
admissions requirements for world (foreign) languages.

Seal of Biliteracy

High school seniors who meet all state and district graduation requirements may earn the Seal of Biliteracy by attaining a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English.

Alternative and Online Learning

Students and families may be seeking alternative pathways for studying a world language for a variety of reasons, including lack of space in current world language courses at the student’s high school, interest in studying a language not offered at the high school, need for flexibility in the student’s school schedule, and others. The State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction provides a Guide to Online Learning through the new Alternative Learning Department. OSPI also provides a list of Approved Online Course Providers (course providers approved to offer courses to Washington schools by contract) and Online Learning Course Catalogs (a searchable list of courses offered by approved online course providers).

Currently, Seattle Public Schools is not providing support for individual students to complete courses available through the OSPI Online Learning Course Catalogs. Families who would like to can register and pay for these courses on their own. If the students are seeking high school credit for such a course, they need to complete the Equivalency Course of Study Proposal form and obtain approval prior to registering for or beginning the course. The Equivalency Course of Study Proposal form can be requested from the school counselor and is used for online, Summer Running Start Courses, and college courses outside of school. We ask school administrators (most often the principal) to provide this approval given their understanding of their students and the connection between the particular request and the school's course offerings.

Note that any courses that are approved through the Equivalency Course of Study Proposal appear on the transcript as Out of District (OOD) credits with a generic course title, such as “World Language.” The high school transcript would not indicate which language or which level was completed. As an alternative, students who take out of district courses may prefer to complete Competency-Based World Language Credit Testing in our district, because these credits are entered on the high school transcript as course titles by language and level, and are more informative to colleges (or employers) looking at the student transcript. World Language Credit testing can also qualify a student for the Seal of Biliteracy – something that OOD or seat-time courses cannot do. Students who plan to earn credits through World Language Credit Testing do not need to seek prior approval for any learning experiences outside of school that help them develop language skills and demonstrate that proficiency to qualify for credits.
​

Teacher Shortages in World Languages

World Language (and Dual Language Immersion) teachers are considered a
"high needs" hiring priority for Seattle Public Schools Human Resources
because each year the district has struggled to fill all of the open
positions. The situation is likely to get worse now that, starting with
the class of 2021, 2 credits of a World Language will be part of the
high school graduation requirements (although it is possible for a
student to waive the requirement as part of a personalized pathway).

If you are a teacher of Spanish, French, Japanese, Latin, or Mandarin
Chinese, please consider working in Seattle Public Schools. Check out
the Careers page.

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) has recently announced a
series of changes to the process for certificated teachers to add
endorsements. Specifically, currently certificated teachers can now add a Designated World Language Endorsement
through testing alone. Likewise a World Language Teacher can add a
Social Studies Endorsement through testing (in order to teach in a
secondary Dual Language Immersion program, for example). Learn more at PESB Retooling.
For certificated teachers who would like to add a Designated World
Language Endorsement and need help to prepare for the required tests,
join the World Language Teachers of SPS Schoology Group to access the
WEST-E for World Languages Resources. Questions? Contact Michele Anciaux
Aoki maaoki@seattleschools.org.

International Exchange Visiting Teachers

For academic year 2017-2018, the district has agreed to host
visiting teachers on J-1 exchange teacher visas from Spain through the Spanish Resource Center and from China through the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington.
These teachers may be qualified to teach at any level (elementary,
including Dual Language Immersion; middle or high school). Most often
schools hire visiting teachers to fill World Language or Dual Language
Immersion teaching positions when there is a shortage of locally
available qualified teachers.
If your school would like to hire a visiting teacher in a future year, please
contact Michele Aoki, International Education Administrator, maaoki@seattleschools.org
to facilitate the offer letter from HR and visa processing through the
Institute of International Education (IIE). Schools may not enter into
agreements for hosting visiting teachers without contacting ELL and
International Programs and HR first.